rgeremia1 Loc: New Jersey

I am going on a Go Kenya Safari next August so has anyone been on this particular Safari and does anyone have any suggestions or heads up for me. Thank you in advance for your help.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I haven't been, but the comments from those with experience tend to include: the trip is dusty, bring two bodies rather than planning to change lenses in the field. The 70-300 range is more useful for both animals and the trip rather than a max length zoom or prime. These are general and may / may not apply to your trip...

rgeremia1 Loc: New Jersey

Good to know, I plan on bringing my 100-400 Canon Mark II and maybe my 70-200 f/4 for the balance of photos along with two bodies. The dust is definitely a concern. Thanks

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Several friends have told me that the conditions are so dusty that they spent at least 1 hour every evening cleaning off the exteriors of their Nikons. And would not even consider changing lenses in the field.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Hopefully the recent unrest and violence due to the election outcome will have subsided by next year. Right now is certainly not a good time to visit Kenya because of all the chaos going on there.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Which tour company are you going with? The vehicles vary, we've been on 2 Tauck tours they use Toyota Land Crusers, have had no problem with dust.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I used a 150-600 lens on one camera and a 28-300 on the second camera. I think your 100-400 is perfect. Keep in mind that sometimes the animals are close. When I was in Tanzania, we had a cheetah walk directly next to the truck we were in, but it was to close for me to capture on my camera.

Also bring a towel or something to cover your camera when not in use. Helps to reduce the dust. Last year I was with friends on a self drive trip to Namibia. 3 cars, 2 people to a car, with walkie talkies to keep in contact. They were air conditioned trucks, still the dust got in.

Africa is a magical place, I am planning on going back again next year!
If anyone is interested, here is the link to my images from Namibia. Comments welcome and please sign my guestbook.
http://ronichas.zenfolio.com/f510783346

rgeremia1 Loc: New Jersey

We will be monitoring the situation in Kenya all year to be sure we will be safe. Thank you for that heads up.

PaulB Loc: Alabama

If your camera require batteries (as opposed to rechargeable ones), take extras---there are no handy drugstores/camera stores in the bush. A "bean bag" is helpful for steadying you camera (monopods/tripods are too clumsy to use in a safari vehicle). An extra media card or two would be smart to have. Have a good Time. I have been to Africa twice. It is a magical place. You can't imagine how much healthier the animals look in their natural habitat.

solomonv

I travelled to Africa with Odysses Unlimited a few years back - we went to South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the trip was billed as a wildlife tour. Here are some comments and suggestions:

- I used my 70-300mm zoom lens almost exclusively.You won't have time to change lenses in the field (animals don't wait for you!) so if you feel you need another lens take another body with you. I found that the 70mm was wide enough for things like Victoria Falls, and the 300mm was long enough for animals and birds.
- I was concerned about losing 1 large memory card so I took a bunch of smaller cards, used a new card every day, and wrote the date on the card. I ended up not losing any cards, but the multiple cards eased my anxiety about it, and also made organizing a bit easier when I got back.
- I lost both lens caps even tho they were tethered. I'd much rather use a clear UV filter and a lens hood and not worry about caps.
- The dust wasn't all that bad for me, but I still wouldn't change lenses in the field. I didn't even feel the need to clean my camera in the evenings, but I certainly was aware of it and I did blow off the lenses every evening and sometimes in the afternoon.
- My camera at the time took AA batteries and I took 2 sets of rechargables and 1 set of alkaline. That seemed to work out well for me, but do think about extra batteries and how you're going to charge them.

I was a little worried that I'd have my nose in my camera and would really "be" there, but I found that it really wasn't an issue. (It was more of an issue for the couple who's only camera was a min-iPad with a case, so every time they took a photo it looked like they were holding an open book in front of their face!). I took over 3K photos over the 17-day trip. Folks in the group thought that was incredibly high, I thought it was kind of low, but we did spend a few days in places like Johannesburg and Cape Town so less photos there.

HAVE FUN!! Africa was a magical place and I'd go back in a heart beat!

rgeremia1 Loc: New Jersey

We will be taking this trip with " go Kenya safaris"

rosjan

I just got back from my first Kenyan safari. I had a wonderful time and took some beautiful picture using a Nikon D3400 with 70mm-300mm lens. (I brought several other lens but never really used them.) My only advice to you is to protect your camera from the dust as best you can. The dust on the game drives was at time just awful. At one point I thought I had lost the use of the camera because of it. At the very least keep your camera wrapped in a cloth when not shooting. You'll have a great time.

Tigger1 Loc: Surrey, BC Canada

Is one of your camera bodies a full frame body? If so, then the 70-200 may suffice for the close in shots. If both bodies are crop sensor bodies I would recommend taking a shorter focal length lens such as a 24mm f1.8 prime for close to the safari vehicle shots as well as low light/night shots of stars and evening landscape shots after sunset. A shot of a cheetah sitting on the hood of your safari vehicle or a pair of sleeping lions beside your vehicle is not going to work with your two telephoto lenses. I visit two african countries each year, Tanzania and South Africa usually and do both countries in either safari vehicles and/or walking safaris in both countries each time I visit. My lenses of choice are Nikon D5100 with Nikon 18-200mm DX and Nikon D7200 with Nikon 70-300mm FF. In addition I carry my Nikon 200-500mm for the occasional long range shot and a 35mm f1.8 DX for low light.
In my opinion your two lens choice is a good choice but would seriously consider taking a shorter focal length lens for the reasons as stated already.
Have a great trip, take lots and lots of photos!
Regards,

Garth

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

Couple of things. While there may be unrest in Nairobi keep in mind that Kenya is a big country. There was unrest along the coast when we were there a couple of years ago and we had no trouble whatsoever out in the country and on the Serengeti. So stay on top of it but don't let it spoil your trip.

I agree it's dusty and August is winter and the dry season so it will be dusty but it's also an advantage for animal viewing because the grass is lower and it's easier to see them--also fewer bugs. I wouldn't change lenses when out on animal drives but I always kept a towel with me to put over my camera when not in use and that helped a lot--I didn't have to spend inordinate amounts of time cleaning it.

Finally, for us the longer the lens the better. Next time I go I'll be looking in the 500 to 600 mm class of lenses. But if you do have a second body and like taking landscapes you may want to lug it around. But that all depends on what you like to shoot. I like subject shots even natural ones so generally go with longer lenses but I do miss some of the spectacular panoramas they have Kenya. You should have a wonderful trip as it's a magic place.

rgeremia1 Loc: New Jersey

I have debated about having my 28-135 kit lens on my second camera rather than my 70-200 lens because I don't intend to change lens while I am out and about. Even though my kit lens is old, I have gotten some of my best shots from it.